Adapter mechanism for facilitating motorized starting of engines



Unite w [72] Inventor Clarence J. lleisler RR. 02, Springport, Michigan 49284 [21] Appl. No. 741,615 [22] Filed July 1, 1968 [45] Patented Nov. 3, 1970 [54] ADAPTER MECHANISM FOR FACILITATING MOTORIZED STARTKNG OF ENGINES 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 123/179, 1 123/185 [51] Int. Cl .1. ..F02n 11/12, F02n 1/00 [50] Field of Search l23/179(all), 185(a11) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,758,138 5/1930 Bishop et a1. 123/185 2,548,666 4/1951 Grove 123/185 2,816,535 12/1957 Sells 123/179 2,932,292 4/1960 Trotter et a1 123/179 Primary Examiner-Wendell E. Burns Att0rney'Roy A. Plant ABSTRACT: The present invention deals broadly with the starting of small gasoline powered internal combustion engines, such as those used on lawn mowers, and more specifically it deals with a starting mechanism utilizing a special form of spool-including adapter assembly connectable to the engine crankshaft to facilitate applying motorized power to the engine for starting same. This spool of the adapter assembly may also include flanges with one having a notch for use in emergency starting of the engine with a rope in conventional manner. The adapter assembly spool includes a tubular core member with a telescopable plug member fitting into same and subjected to outward pressure of a mild compression spring within the adapter assembly core member and under the telescopable plug member to aid in disengaging the motorized power means when the engine starts, The motorized power means may be a removable member, or in the deluxe form of the invention may be unitarily combined with the adapter mechanism and mounted on the internal combustion engine.

Patented Nov. 3, 1970 Sheet Z of 2 lNVEN-TOR CLARENCE J. HEISLER ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1970 Sheet 2 of 2 25 27 55 FIG, 5'

FIG 7 INVENTOR CLARENCE J. HEISLER ATTORNEY ADAPTER MECHANISM FOR FACILITATING MOTORIZED STARTING OF ENGINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Most internal combustion engines, and particularly those adapted to power lawn mowers, commonly utilize as the sole starting means a notched pulley around which a starting rope is wound and then pulled to spin the crankshaft to the engine for starting. Unfortunately, these engines many times do not start easily due to spark plugs becoming dirty, or the electric ignition points and timing getting out of optimum condition. Continued use of the engine gradually brings about these conditions so that it is often difficult to start the engines with the conventional starter rope and pulley. Thus, the starting of the engine can become an arduous task, especially for the weak or physically handicapped, including those having asthma, heart ailments, high blood pressure, or other weakening diseases which may make the work of starting such engines so unsafe as to be prohibitive. It is also to be noted that women do not, in general, like to start power units with the pull rope mechanism and may well find it impossible to do this. There is, of course, always the danger of exposure to physical injury the more exertion is expended and particularly injury from the rotating lawn mower blade.

The normal starter rope and pulley type of starter for thes engines, as noted, is not wholly satisfactory to many, and as a result strong wind-up spring mechanisms have been devised for some forms of lawn mowers to get away from the need of pulling a starting rope while wholly eliminating the pull rope and pulley. In more expensive constructions the engines have been equipped with a starter ring and Bendix drive for use with an electric starter and battery system. These rings sometimes break and the Bendix systems also cause difficulty on occasion. Even with the ring and Bendix drive mechanisms, where they have been used, the pull rope and pulley mechanism has been eliminated so that there is no alternate way in which the owner can get his engine started in an emergency under a breakdown of the ring or Bendix starter constructions. It was a recognition of these inherent difficulties in the art involving the starting of small internal combustion engines which led to the conception and development of the present invention.

SUMMARY- OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a starting mechanism including an adapter assembly which may be attached to the engine crankshaft, or to the motorized power supplying means, to facilitate motorized starting of the engine whenever power spinning of same is possible.

Another object of this invention is to provide for the starting of small internal combustion engines by means of a motorized power supply means, and an adapter assembly which not only facilitates motorized starting of the engine, but also permits pull rope starting in an emergency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a special form of adapter assembly which permits motorized starting of the engine and yet facilitates disengaging the engine from the starting motor the moment the engine starts rotating on its own.

A further object of this invention is to provide an adapter assembly facilitating the motorized starting of the engine by means of an electric starter which completely avoids the need of a starter ring and Bendix, and at the same time makes possible the emergency starting of the engine with a pull rope.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends the invention, then, consists of the engine starting means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the following description setting forth in detail certain means for carrying out the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but several of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS In the annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically in perspective one way to utilize the present invention in the starting of the internal combustion engine of an engine driven lawn mower.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary centraltop view of the adapter as-.

rotated and the starting mechanism engaged ready for applying motorized starting power.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the adapter assembly as viewed along line V-V of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view as taken along line Vl-Vl of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 diagrammatically shows an engine starting mechanism utilizing the adapter assembly of the present invention, and wherein an electric starter forms a unit portion of the overall assembly.

FIG. 8 shows a top view of the engine starting mechanism having an electric starter, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. I to 6, inclusive, it will be noted that the lawn mower 10 has an internal combustion engine 11, with a rotary flange l2 conventionally fastened coaxially to the engine crankshaft (not shown) for rotation in unison therewith. Anchored to rotary flange 12 by means of cap screws 13 is a tubular spool 14 having end flanges l5 and I6. Flange I6 is perforated for the passage therethrough of cap screws 13 which threadedly engage openings 17, FIG. 5, in flange 12, the outer edge of which is preferably provided with radial fins 18, FIGS. 2 and 3, which aid in circulating air for engine cooling during its operation. Top flange 15 is preferably provided with a notch 19, FIGS. 2 and 4, for engagement with a knot in the end of a pull rope (not shown) to be wound around spool 14 between flanges 15 and 16 for emergency use in starting the internal combustion engine 11. The core 20 of spool 14, FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, is provided with slots 21 and 22 on opposite sides of same for a purpose to be hereinafter described in detail.

Now referring more specifically to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be noted that core 20 of spool 14 has slidably fitting therein a plug member 23 which has a cross pin 24 which slidably fits slots 21 and 22 for guiding plug member 23 in its endwise movements. Inside of core member 20 and between the bottom of plug member 23 and the top of bottom flange 16 is a mild compression spring 25 which normally holds plug member 23 elevated to the point where its cross pin 24 abuts the upper end of slots 21 and 22, and acts as a stop for plug member 23. The top of plug member 23 is preferably provided with a rounded or hemispherical central recess 26.

To still further stabilize and anchor spool 14 on rotary flange 12, which is concentrically mounted on the upper end of the engine crankshaft (not shown), bottom flange 16 may have a central opening 33 therethrough and rotary flange 12 may have a drilled and threaded opening 27 so that a cap screw 28 may be screwed thereinto and tightened to anchor spool 14 in place. It is thus to be seen that plug member 23 may be moved up and down inside of core 20 against the resistance of mild compression spring 25 and held in substantially vertical sliding position by means of cross pin 24 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

A conventional portable drill motor assembly 29, FIG. 1, may be used for starting the internal combustion engine 11 as will now be explained. This portable drill motor assembly is conventionally provided with a chuck 30 in which is gripped a short shaft 31 preferably having a rounded bottom 32, FIG. 5, which fits the hemispherical recess 26 for freely centering in same. This shaft 31 adjacent its rounded bottom 32 is pro vided with a cross pin 34. This cross pin 34 is adapted to engage the end shoulder of notches 35 at opposite sides of the end of core 20 which extends up through top flange 15 of spool 14 as is particularly illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 3, the cross pin 34 is shown in elevated position ready for lowering to engage the end shoulder of notches 35, while in FIG. 4, cross pin 34 is shown lowered into engagement with said shoulder of notches 35. In this position plug member 23 will be in retracted position and mild compression spring 25 compressed. With the engine 11 adjusted for starting and the ignition turned on, actuation of the portable drill motor assembly 29 will rapidly turn engine 11 for starting. As soon as it starts its crankshaft (not shown) will turn faster than the portable drill motor assembly spins shaft 31, and cross pin 34 will be forced to follow up the sloping side portion, 36 of notches 35, and will also be helped upward by mild compression spring 25 acting on the bottom of plug member 23. With cross pin 34 thus elevated from the depressed starting position and the portable drill motor assembly 29 stopped, the latter may be taken away.

In emergencies when the electric power is either off, not available, or there is no portable drill motor assembly 29 with shaft 31 and pin 34 available for use, the lawn mower user can still utilize the conventional pull rope starting procedure where the knot (not shown) of a conventional pull rope can be hooked in notch 19 of top flange 15 of spool 14 and the rope then wound on the spool 14 between flanges 15 and I6 and ultimately pulled to spin the crankshaft of the engine motor for starting in conventional manner.

Some internal combustion engine driven lawn mowers, particularly of the riding type, utilize electric self-starters which are battery powered and commonly have a starter ring and Bendix forming the engine and electric starter connecting mechanism. The difficulties of gear meshing and Bendix malfunctioning with this type of starter mechanism is well known to those operating automobile repair garages. The present invention lends itself to the solving of these difficulties, and the elimination of the need of a ring gear and Bendix. Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be noted that the same type of spool 14 and associated parts are used as described above. However, in the place of using a portable drill motor assembly, normally operating on 110 volt electricity, there is a battery operated electric motor 37, which has legs 38 with outtumed feet 39, preferably drilled at each end for sliding fit on guide studs 40, which preferably have compression springs 41 mounted on same and supporting the bottom of said feet 39 and the assembly carried by same on the lawn mower housing 45. These compression springs are preferably of sufficient stiffness to support the electric motor 37, legs 38 and feet 39 while permitting this assembly to be readily depressed when the starter is to be used to start the engine. Wire 42 serves to connect the starter mechanism to the battery (not shown) for use in starting the engine.

To use the electric starter assembly of FIGS. 7 and 8, the electric motor 37 is depressed, after adjusting the engine for starting and turning on the ignition, so that shaft 310 of motor 37 carries cross pin 34 into mesh with the end shoulder of notches 35 on the end of spool 14. Then by depressing starter button 43 electricity is delivered through wire 42 to electric motor 37, which through cross pin 34 rotates spool 14 and the internal combustion engine to which it is connected. As soon as the engine starts it rotates spool 14 faster than the electric motor 37 can drive it, so that the sloping side 36 of notches 35 elevates cross pin 34, which is aided by mild compression springs 25 and 41 to disengage the starter assembly 44 whereupon the starter button 43 can be released to stop the rotation of the motor of the electric starter 37.

it is to be noted, of course, that sometimes the electric starter or its battery may fail, and then the core 20 and flanges 15 and 16 of spool 14 are available for the attachment of a pull-rope as described above, to manually start the engine ll in such emergency.

While but two forms of the invention have been shown and described, other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above, merely serve to set forth the principle of the invention, and are not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention as shown and described. It is further to be noted that while directional terms have been used, same are not to be construed as a limitation of the invention since such use has been availed of to better describe the invention as illustrated.

I claim:

1. A starting mechanism for internal combustion engines having a rotary crankshaft comprising, in combination:

a. a source of motorized starting power;

b. a spool;

1. said spool having a tubular core with axially extending notches in one end of same;

2. Each of said notches having an axially extending starting power receiving shoulder, and a sloping side leading from the bottom of said shoulder to the outer end of said core;

3. a plug member closely but slidably fitting said core, and

2 extending outward with its outer end terminating substantially at the notched end of said core;

4. said plug and spool core having a pin and longitudinal slot means for slidably guiding the endwise movement of said plug in said spool core and also acting as a stop limiting the outward projection of same; and

5. a mild compression spring in said spool core and terminating substantially at one end of said spool core while the other end of said spring abuts the adjacent end of said plug to resiliently permit the latter to operably slide lengthwise in said spool core;

c. a shaft having substantially alined ends, with one of said ends being substantially smaller than said spool core and having a cross pin for engaging said notched end of said spool core;

d. means for freely centering the end of said shaft carrying I said cross pin in the outer end of the spool core; and

e. means operably connecting the combination of said spool core, and said alined end of said shaft with its cross pin, concentrically with the end of said internal combustion engine crankshaft at one end, and to said source of motorized power at the other whereby depressing said plug by means of the centered end of said shaft having said cross pin, so as to engage said cross pin with said notches in said spool core end, and then by actuating said motorized starting power connected to the other end of said shaft it will spin said crankshaft for starting said engine, with said spring and sloping side of said notch portion of said spool core aiding in the disengaging of said cross pin from said core end when said engine starts.

2. A starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said centering means includes:

a. a centrally located centering recess in the outer end of said plug; and

b. the end of said shaft adjacent said cross pin operably fits into said centering recess in the outer end of said plug so that when said plug is depressed said cross pin will operatively engage said notched portion of said spool core.

3. A starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

a. said spool has a peripheral flange at one end, and a second peripheral flange adjacent the bottom of the notches at its opposite end; and

b. said second peripheral flange having a notch in its outer edge adapted to releasably hold .the end of a starter rope when the latter is operably wound on said spool.

4. A starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

a. said plug has a centrally located centering recess in its outer end; and

b. said shaft has an end adjacent said cross pin which operably fits into said centering recess in the outer end of said plug.

5. A starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said mechanism has:

a. means connecting said spool, at its end opposite that carrying said notches, coaxially to said engine crankshaft; and

b. means connecting said shaft with cross pin to said source of motorized starting power.

6. A starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 4, wherein said mechanism has:

a. means connecting said spool, at its end opposite that carrying said notches, coaxially to said engine crankshaft; and

b. means connecting said shaft with cross pin to said source of motorized starting power.

7. A starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine having a rotary crankshaft, which comprises:

a. a spool;

b. said spool having a tubular core with axially extending notches in one end of same;

c. each of said notches having an axially extending starting power receiving shoulder, and a sloping side leading from the bottom of said shoulder to the outer end of said core,

d. a plug member closely but slidably fitting said core, and

extending outward with its outer end terminating substantially at the notched end of said core;

e. said plug having pin means extending outward from at least one side of same;

f. said core having a longitudinal slot for slidably receiving said pin and acting as a guide for the endwise movement of said plug in said core and also as a stop limiting the outward projection of same;

g. a mild compression spring in said core and terminating substantially at one end of said spool while the other end of said spring abuts the adjacent end of said plug to resiliently permit the latter to operably slide lengthwise in said core;

h. a shaft having substantially alined ends, with one end having a cross pin for engagmg said notched end of said spool; and

i. means operably connecting the combination of said spool, and said shaft with crosspin, which shaft end is concentric with the end of said crankshaft, to a source of operating power at its other end which is substantially alined with said first end.

8. A starting mechanism for internal combustion engines having arotary crankshaft comprising, in combination:

a. a source of motorized starting power;

b. a spool;

1. said spool having a tubular core with axially extending notches in one end of same;

2. each of said notches having an axially extending starting power receiving shoulder, and a sloping side leading from the bottom of said shoulder to the outer end of said core;

3. a plug member closely but slidably fitting said core, and

extending outward with its outer end terminating substantially at the notched end of said core;

4. said plug having pin means extending outward from at least one side of same;

5. said core having a longitudinal slot for slidably receiving said pin and acting as a guide for the endwise movement of said plug in said core and also as a stop limiting the outward projection of same; and

6. a mild compression spring in said core and terminating substantially at one end of said spool while the other end of said spring abuts the adjacent and of said plug to resiliently permit the latter to operably slide lengthwise in said core,

and wherein with said combination: c. there is a starter assembly having a starter motor with housing having legs with feet provided with mounting openin d. guide S%l 1dS with stop means at one end and with the other end anchored to the housing of said engine, said studs between said stop means and said housing slidably fitting said mounting openings in said feet;

e. means mounting one end of said spool concentrically on the crankshaft of said engine with said axially extending notches of said core being at the opposite end of said spool;

f. said starter motor having a shaft with a cross pin adjacent its outer end in position for engagement and rotation concentrically with the notched end of said spool;

g. mild compression springs mounted on said guide studs below said feet on the legs of said starter motor housing in manner permitting said shaft with its cross pin to be moved endwise and to be releasably engaged with said notches of said spool; h. means connecting said starter motor to a source of electrical current; and i. a starter operating means for connecting said starter motor to said source of electrical current for rotating said shaft and its cross pin in engagement with the crankshaft of said engine for starting the latter. 9. A starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 8, wherein:

a. the plug of said spool has a centrally located centering recess in its outer end; and b. said shaft has an end adjacent said cross pin which operably fits into said centering recess in the outer end of said plug for stabilized rotation in unison. 10. A starting mechanism for an internal combustion engine as set forth in claim 9, wherein:

a. said spool has a peripheral flange at its end joined to said crankshaft, and a second peripheral flange adjacent the bottom of the notches at its opposite end; and

b. said second peripheral flange having a notch in its outer edge adapted to releasably hold the end of a starter rope when the latter is operably wound on said spool. 

